Alexander Louis Caterson was born May 28, 1898, in New York, the son of Mr. and Mrs. William H. Caterson. He had a younger brother, Herbert, who was born in 1900; and a sister, Ethel A. who was born in 1903. As children they lived with their grandmother, Mary J. Caterson on South 13th Ave. in Mount Vernon, New York, following the death of their parents in 1905. From 1917 through 1920 Alexander was employed as a book keeper or bank cashier, having completed four years of high school. He registered for the draft in 1918 during WWI, but seems to have been working steadily in Mount Vernon the whole time. His physical description at that time was, "tall, slender build, with greyish-brown eyes, and light brown hair." He stated that his nearest relative was his grandmother- Mary J. Caterson.
Some time before 1930 is where Alexander's story begins to take a difficult, and somewhat sad turn of events. In 1925 on the New York State Census his address is given as "Poughkeepsie, New York." The 1930 and 1940 Federal Censuses go into more detail...he was a patient at the Hudson River State Hospital located in Poughkeepsie. For over a century this facility cared for psychiatric patients, as many as 1,780 at a time, until the early 1990's when changing methods of care severely reduced the population. It was ultimately closed in 2003.
In 1941 there was a case in the Bronx County New York Court, describing Alexander Caterson as "incompetent," and accounting for the "sale of real property," a sometimes necessary step when arranging for care in a state facility.
Alexander's last residence was in Far Rockaway, Queens, New York. He died September 1, 1989, at the Resort Nursing Home, and was buried on Hart Island.
Sources: U.S. Social Security Death Index; New York, State Census, 1915; 1920, 1930, and 1940 U.S. Federal Censuses; U.S. City Directories, 1822-1989; U.S. WWI Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918; Bronx County, New York, Divorce and Civil Case Records, 1914-1995; http://www.asylumprojects.org/index.php?title=Hudson_River_State_Hospital;https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hudson_River_State_Hospital.